Value-Added Processing of Rice and Rice By-Products. Rice Processing and Products made from Rice
Rice is the most important cereal food crop of India, occupying one-fourth of the gross cropped area of the country. As the basic food crop, rice is cultivated comfortably in hot and humid climate. In the country, the crop is mainly grown as a Kharif crop in rainfed areas that receive heavy annual rainfall.
India is the second largest rice producer in the world after China, with 21% of the global production share. The rice production has increased by 3.5 times in the last 60 years. The country’s productivity is higher than Thailand and Pakistan at 2.2tons/ha. Major Rice producing states in India are West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and Bihar. India has been the top exporter in global rice trade, accounting for 25% of the export in the last four years. Indian rice caters to the Middle East and Africa for non-Basmati, and the EU and the US for Basmati variety.
Rice and rice-based products derived from rice grain and rice flour include parboiled rice; quick-cooking rice and ready-to-eat convenience foods; rice flours; rice starch; cakes and puddings; baked breads and crackers; breakfast cereals and expanded rice products; extrusion-cooked and puffed-rice snacks; noodles, paper, and pasta; baby/weaning foods; fermented foods and beverages; pet foods; and bran products.
Value addition also enhances the profitability of rice production. A wide range of product development like processed and canned, ready-to-eat products, vitamin, iron or calcium enriched flaked or puffed rice, flavoured rice, starch extraction from broken rice and so on are nowadays getting popular. Value-added products from organic rice and therapeutic value medicinal rice varieties have good niche in domestic and export markets.